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Day 33Gripped by the Gospel Friday, March 23, 2018
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:7-10
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Devotional:
Is it just me, Friend, or are you starting to see as we walk down the Gospel Road that the Gospel is not something we put away after salvation, like a used train ticket with the destination already reached? Rather it is becoming very clear that the Cross is the necessary compass which stays constantly with us, unfolding itself in power to us, keeping us on track as we climb the mountain to Calvary.
Indeed, “we must go back again and again to the gospel of Christ-crucified, so that our hearts are more deeply gripped by the reality of what he did and who we are in him.” - Tim Keller
Oh, Father, that we make looking to your Cross the main thing, that through your Spirit the cross illumines and rises glorious as the only thing! There is no new thing, no modern thing, no evolving thing. No, as time marches forward we just progress with newer and better things. No! There is only one thing. Never changing, never out of date. Always always and only the most important thing- and that thing is the Cross.
C. J. Mahany writes, “If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life.”
He continues, “Cry tears of amazement.”
Lord, I want to cry tears of amazement every day when I behold you!
Yes! In the words of the great John Stott, “The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us.”
What is it that can make the gospel of God and His grace more deeply and consistently amazing to us? In our busy lives, how can we more often be gripped by gratitude and enflamed in passion for the Savior? For me, grace is never more overpowering and captivating to the soul than to climb Calvary’s mountain with childlike attentiveness and wonder, with all the distractions and wrong assumptions cleared away.
~~ When we see how extravagantly and undeservedly loved we are in the gospel, we see how much God can be trusted and depended on. -Jerry Bridges ~~
What’s the main thing in your life? What is truly “of first importance” to you? It might be something perfectly honorable, perfectly legitimate. But if it’s something other than the gospel—are you willing to give it to God and reorder your life? Let me urge you to do whatever it takes to make the gospel your passion. Ask God to change your heart so you can personally affirm for your own life the words in Philippians 3:7-11
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Indeed, “we must go back again and again to the gospel of Christ-crucified, so that our hearts are more deeply gripped by the reality of what he did and who we are in him.” - Tim Keller
Oh, Father, that we make looking to your Cross the main thing, that through your Spirit the cross illumines and rises glorious as the only thing! There is no new thing, no modern thing, no evolving thing. No, as time marches forward we just progress with newer and better things. No! There is only one thing. Never changing, never out of date. Always always and only the most important thing- and that thing is the Cross.
C. J. Mahany writes, “If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life.”
He continues, “Cry tears of amazement.”
Lord, I want to cry tears of amazement every day when I behold you!
Yes! In the words of the great John Stott, “The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us.”
What is it that can make the gospel of God and His grace more deeply and consistently amazing to us? In our busy lives, how can we more often be gripped by gratitude and enflamed in passion for the Savior? For me, grace is never more overpowering and captivating to the soul than to climb Calvary’s mountain with childlike attentiveness and wonder, with all the distractions and wrong assumptions cleared away.
~~ When we see how extravagantly and undeservedly loved we are in the gospel, we see how much God can be trusted and depended on. -Jerry Bridges ~~
What’s the main thing in your life? What is truly “of first importance” to you? It might be something perfectly honorable, perfectly legitimate. But if it’s something other than the gospel—are you willing to give it to God and reorder your life? Let me urge you to do whatever it takes to make the gospel your passion. Ask God to change your heart so you can personally affirm for your own life the words in Philippians 3:7-11
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Prayer: |
Lord Jesus, I confess that often You slip in to second or third place in my life. Help me to clear away the distractions and wrong assumptions that cloud my priorities. Give me a burning passion for You, my Lord and Savior.
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Song/Hymn: |
By Faith “…by faith this mountain shall be moved, and the power of the Gospel will prevail...”
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